Floquet modes and stability analysis of periodic orbit-attitude solutions along Earth–Moon halo orbits

Future space programmes pose some interesting research problems in the field of non-Keplerian dynamics, being the Moon and the cislunar space central in the proposed roadmap for the future space exploration. In these regards, the deployment of a cislunar space station on a non-Keplerian orbit in the lunar vicinity is a fundamental milestone to be achieved. The paper investigates the natural orbit-attitude dynamics and the attitude stabilisation of coupled motions for extended bodies in the Earth–Moon system. The discussion is carried out analysing the phase space of natural dynamics, constituted by both the orbital and the rotational periodic motions of a spacecraft in cislunar orbits. Floquet theory is applied to periodic orbit-attitude solutions in lunar proximity, to characterise their attitude stability properties and their attitude manifolds, which are discussed and analysed focusing on their dynamical features applicable to cislunar environment. Attitude stabilisation methods are proposed and developed, with particular attention to spin-stabilised solutions. Periodic orbit-attitude dynamics are studied to highlight possible favourable conditions that may be exploited to host a cislunar space station with a simplified control action. The focus of the analysis is dedicated to halo orbits and near-rectilinear halo orbit in the circular restricted three-body problem Earth–Moon system.